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Newbie: unbalanced versus XLR on DAC

I have an Arcam rDAC that I'd like to hook up to some monoblock amps and Thiel PCS speakers.

I know the consensus is that XLR > unbalanced inputs, but is the difference so great that I should go out and get a new DAC? Or all other things being equal is balanced okay?

(And consensus is also that long interconnects and short speaker cable runs is better than the other way round, right?)

Thanks very much!
aik

Showing 2 responses by sandstone

sandstone
358 posts
 
The rDAC looks like a neat unit that has elements from some very high-shelf designers (dCS and Wolfram). Arcam also has years of experience producing top source gear without balanced outputs.

Suggest you might want to

- Use USB (with length of 8 feet or less - and forget using any wireless) to take full advantage of Asynchronous mode.

- Experiment with feeding it battery power, to replace its stock, inexpensive, switched power source.

Let us know how it works out for you.
sandstone
358 posts
 
"Anyway, a different kind of 'balanced' worth investigating IMO."
Good point, but remember that the stock rDAC under discussion uses a 6V DC feed from a very cheap external switching transformer.
In this case, a battery or other non-switching DC feed might be worth trying first.
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